I no longer wamt to be associated with anarchists. Fuck y'all.

Ok

The antifa narrative is more than co-opted by the statusquo, this is not anarchism.." they are using panic to control, so we should give them Panic, bitter fear, burn all the marble house, no neck is safe, rusty razors singing an old song, blackpowder fumes by morning, putrid dead flowers by sunfall..

And to be clear, fck anarchists, anachoapologists, anarchorapists, all the fash colors, fck biden, fck trump, fck all the rustic american lineage of elected presidents.."

More anarcho-rapistism from that thread:

https://archive.vn/bJhnz

It’s like every anarchist I see has at least one fourth-wall obliterating character flaw, the kind of thing you’d expect them to issue a public apology for. I think social media actively encourages this type of bullshit, and I’m glad that I got rid of Reddit.

Honestly I don’t know if you’re familiar with reddit people but this is a pretty average take for them.

Damn, imagine having a take so bad that you're two steps away from being left-fash.

Liberalism?

Vaguely-related tangent: does anyone else find it real weird when people try to use "ovaries" as a direct equivalent to "balls"? Is "punching someone in the ovaries" really a thing?

Good point.

Correction: Imagine calling yourself an Anarchist but having the politics of a liberal.

Make an anti-civ comment in a red and black space and watch the counter go negative. Lol. Only reason I comment there at all is to try and save new anarchists from leftism.

Yeah I can’t make sense of it.

Not just vote counts but you’ll often get a ton of vitriol.

What principals!? The idea that by doing nothing you're superior to the person that takes a few minutes to vote for a clearly lesser evil?

Biden sucks but not voting is an act. It's a an act through which you say "I want other peoples votes to decide for me". Not voting isn't brave. Not voting is defeatist. Not voting is cowardly.

Not voting is exactly the type of propaganda strategy I would be pushing if I was Trump.

Voting does literally nothing. Trump lost the popular vote and he still won.

Get the fuck over yourself, you're not going to change anything by going to a fucking ballot box or trying to guilt trip anyone into performing futile gestures, you sanctimonious piece of shit.

i, too, enjoy joining random websites and telling women how they should feel about having two rapists to choose from

If you're that scared of Trump winning because of nonvoters, pay people to vote.

the idea that by doing nothing you’re superior to the person that takes a few minutes to vote for a clearly lesser evil?

Yes.

I might be wrong about this, I’m not American, but I was under the impression that non-voters are the majority in the US.

I don’t see any shame whatsoever in sitting out the Rapist Popularity Contest 2020.

If anyone gives you shit, you can always tell them to go whine at the apathetic non-voters instead of the principled ones.

the anarcho-liberals have been absolutely livid ever since peter coffin made that video yesterday about why demanding people to vote for biden might not be such a great idea.

Isn’t that guy a Marxist?

Sorry I can’t wrap my head around that either lol.

Yeah local stuff can be worthwhile, it can directly affect you and your community.

Alright let me tackle this one at a time:

1- I've been lurking this site for a while. I agree with a lot but there's some serious hivemind going on and it's problematic. If you enjoy the lack of actual debate and vacuous praxis, feel free.

2- I assumed nothing of the gender of bloodrose. Clearly you're assigning one to me now although without outright explicitly stating so. Actually, their response was much more thoughtful than yours... Interesting.

3- I didn't tell any one what to do. I just strongly disagree with this idea that by not voting your somehow taking a stand. Not voting by definition does less than voting, even if it's a corrupt, broken system and both choices suck. I still fail to see how you're doing anything positive by encouraging people to withhold what little voice they have.

4- If you genuinely can't afford the time to vote. That's fair. I hold nothing against you.

I guess that's it. oh I myself am not voting btw. I just don't pretend it's some grand gesture.

Ok so it's broken. Does that mean it's useless. Do you not drive your car as soon as the check engine light comes on.

Seriously. Sanctimonious seems about right for a lot of people here.

ok fine. The process is purposefully long and convoluted in far too many place.

I'm classist or racist because I think people should vote if they can? nope. You sure as hell don't know enough about me to say that, and that's just not what those words mean.

Are you working on these mutual aids projects though? And can you not do both? While I admitted it's not "just few minutes", is it really so energy and time consuming that it puts everything else you stand for and work towards at risk? I think not.

Thanks for actually answering and giving some credence to voting (at least locally) later in the thread.

In light of gangsnorrisson's reply, don't you think that if the majority of people already are non-voters. An additional non-vote doesn't even register as an act of protest?

It's a drop in the bucket in either direction. One at least has the potential to maybe change something somewhat, maybe.

Deep.

Thanks. I think I still disagree though.

Sounds like your problem is with individualism not voting.. the fuck do I know.

attacks argument rather than provide counter argument.

Great sophism. Complimentary micmickery.

If you enjoy the lack of actual debate and vacuous praxis, feel free.

No, I absolutely love to debate unfounded statements like "[insert thing here] is cowardly". Please don't leave.

I assumed nothing of the gender of bloodrose.

You didn't have to, it's made pretty clear in her post:

I can tell you the women I know in America are having some collective trauma over the last few elections. It's been very disheartening being slapped in the face with the misogyny and watching them yank rights away from us like they never even fucking mattered.

End of quote.

Clearly you're assigning one to me now although without outright explicitly stating so.

I suggest learning to shake the habit of saying things like "clearly" or "obviously" before saying things that are not clear or obvious, and are, in fact, just opinions. One of my coworkers does this, and it feels infantilising.

Actually, their response was much more thoughtful than yours... Interesting.

She's extremely gracious. You didn't deserve a thoughtful response.

I didn't tell any one what to do.

Not directly, no, but this doesn't change the fact that you are a new user who came in to call people who object to voting for a rapist a bunch of names. You might as well have rewritten your little "Biden sucks, but..." tirade as "I don't usually apologise for sexual harassment, but..." because Biden's history of sexual harassment was the very topic being discussed, and here you come, "yallsuck", shaming people who've thoughtfully put into words why they take issue with it.

I just strongly disagree with this idea that by not voting your somehow taking a stand. Not voting by definition does less than voting, even if it's a corrupt, broken system and both choices suck.

I don't believe for one second you think Biden sucks. Despite being a prominent architect of mass incarceration in the US, supporting police during the protests this summer, and having credible accusations of sexual harassment against him, followed by a whole slew of videos where he's inappropriate with women and children, somehow you've found common ground with him. You lot put on an impressive display of mental gymnastics to support a man who said it's dangerous if his own party wins.

I still fail to see how you're doing anything positive by encouraging people to withhold what little voice they have.

Supporting a person or organisation who has nothing in common with you in lieu of a better choice isn't using your voice.

No my argument was that voting is in fact more impactful than not voting. I stand by it. The wording in my initial post was a bit stronger but directed at "purposeful non-voters". I made a small adjustment for people that legitimately cannot vote.

You argued (and still argue?) that I am classist and racist for thinking this way.

What's your alternative though. How are you going to make decisions in your ideal anarchist world if not by some sort of community decision making framework?

PFTP sucks. But theres "liquid democracy".

The Zapatistas are doing some cool stuff. Is that non-democracy enough?

😭 i'm not that cool

I don't support Biden. I also don't support the idea of calling someone a rape apologist because they think voting makes more of a difference than not voting.

I guess I could've said "lacking in nuance and perspective" instead of coward? I'm not sure you'll like that one more..

If voting for Biden is supporting Biden. Purposely not voting is supporting whoever wins.

Cool cool.

Not even any love for the Zapatistas. Y'all are one tough bunch.

I also don't support the idea of calling someone a rape apologist because they think voting makes more of a difference than not voting.

The subject of this thread is a redditor coming up with justifications for supporting one of two hypothetical men who each had "raped 1 million kids", but sure, keep framing things in a dishonest fashion.

Wouldn’t an individualist reject the legitimacy of majority rule? Or are you talking about the seemingly chronic lack of empathy of bloodrose’s community?

As an anarchist, I can appreciate their refusal to be constrained by things such as anatomical accuracy, or simply reality in general.

I'm just saying it's more impactful to vote than not.

Isn't your argument that we should do nothing to support Biden and that voting for Biden is supporting Biden therefore we shouldn't vote?

I don't see how I'm framing anything.

Chronic lack of empathy due to individualism.

Interesting point about why they don't reject majority rule. I would speculate that it's because most people are still content. And yes, sure. They're content "because both sides are the same". Except they're not really the same.

In the same way that I don't think there should be any millionaires in the world. I Really dont think there should be Billionaires and if we can get rid of billionaires first. It's worth a shot?

not voting isn’t brave

not voting is defeatist

not voting is cowardly

Seems like you were doing a bit more than that, particularly when we consider that your account seems to have been created for the express purpose of stumping for a right-wing politician.

It's true. I'm defensive. This thread isn't pleasant. To be expected given the subject I suppose.

As for the tone, I might've read your a reply as "I dont have to answer that".

Idk about the whole "fuck this group" thing. My last comment was an attempt at portraying myself as a flopping stand-up comedian.. I'm no Dan Brown though.

I'm saying none of those.

I'm just saying it's more impactful to vote than not.

No, you were denying rape apologia when you stated that someone was being called a rape apologist for a reason you made up.

I'm not going to be lead in circles by you. Please work on your empathy with women, who have long suffered injustice at the hands of men in power.

Goodbye.

I think I can live anarchy as much as I can for 3 years. Then 364 days, with a day of to toss a little dirt into what other people call society.

I don't think I'm an anarchist though. Anarchism is too often mistaken for individualism. I believe in community and presonal accountability.

I stand by purposefully voting isn't brave as well as defeatist.

I've corrected cowardly elsewhere.

I'm stumping for the idea that voting does make something of a more positive difference than not.

Not voting is supporting whoever wins.

Godspeed.

Yeah.. the whole I can't read the room is the point.

Anyhow I think we've reacched the end here. I'm going to reflect on all of these great points y'all have made about how justified you are in your non-voting praxis.

I'm sorry I don't think I ever tried to say you lacked empathy?

There's a general lack of empathy in society.

Thanks for that link. I'll need to take proper time to read later. I feel like they're saying much more than "don't vote" though. They're trying to fight against the idea that you vote and that's enough. Everything they said made sense.

I'd just quote them on this particular nuance:

This doesn’t mean simply abstinence or ignoring the problem until it just goes away, it means developing and implementing strategies and maneuvers that empower Indigenous People’s autonomy.

I'm going to stick believing it's possible to criticize/fight the system 1459 our of every 1460 days, and take that one day to vote and if that's the only way in which you're complicit in the colonial mindset. Then, so be it.

I appreciate that :)

Look, I was being tongue-in-cheek there but personally I couldn’t care less whether someone chooses to vote or not. It’s not my business and it’s not interesting to me.

The thing is, there’s a world of difference between choosing to cast your ballot and going around chastising people who reject that practice, usually for entirely private reasons. Especially in this context, where many of the women on raddle were expressing their disgust and the Blue Rapist vs. Red Rapist Popularity Contest, and the fact that some “anarchists” would still defend the aforementioned Blue Rapist.

Further proving how cool you are.

Never defended either rapist.

I came into this conversation because there's always someone defending the idea of not voting. But equating voting to rape apology is actively discouraging people to vote.

If anyone's gonna argue against voting, the anticolonial perspective that lettuce brought up makes more sense to me but call me a rape apologist while diminishing what I think are our odds at a perhaps slightly less horrible future, and yeah, I might get riled up.

Well from everything I can tell you seem to have created an account called “yallsuck” to jump into this exact thread thread and argue with bloodrose who was in dismay at seeing anarchists essentially saying “I don’t care if he’s a rapist, vote blue no matter blah blah blah”. I

That is misogyny. You’re defending the complete dismissal of the perspective of women who refuse to vote for one Rapist dickhead over another.

Edit: to be completely clear, vote if you want to. I don’t care and I’ve yet to see anyone around here who does. But don’t be dismissive towards or invalidate people who can’t stomach the idea of picking a side in the One-Rapist-Two-Rapist-Red-Rapist-Blue-Rapist 2020 showdown. That’s unspeakably vile.

Ok so it's broken. Does that mean it's useless.

Fucking yes? You're proposing using a broken thing to fix itself and getting all defensive when I point out that that solution makes no sense.

Do you not drive your car as soon as the check engine light comes on.

Your analogy doesn't work.

Seriously. Sanctimonious seems about right for a lot of people here.

Whine somewhere else, lib.

Barely anyone argued for why it's praxis not to vote. Mostly y'all are trying to airmchair psychoanalyze me and breakdown my arguments rather than the point I'm making which is that by not voting youre supporting whoever wins.

I've said this many times already as well. If you legitimately can't vote fine. If you're not voting "out of principal" then your principal is weak.

I'm sorry if you've experienced sexual assault in the past and cannot vote because of it. I don't hold it against you. It's one thing to say "I couldn't do it" it's another to say "voting is rape apologia".

God this is disappointing.

Name calling. Arguing structure not content.

Confusing arguing with whining.

Anything to say about the Praxis of not-voting?

Nope. I said the colonial mind set made more sense as an argument. because it rejects the institution as a whole. As far as I understand the current argument is that one shouldnt vote if the options are two rapists. Which is not a rejection of the institution. It's a contextual rebellion for personal harm reduction.

I'm just stating my own impressions about those lines of argument. Not the legitimacy of the underlying feelings. Both are sure as hell legitimate.

the anticolonial side also seems able to nuance itself. They're saying don't vote in American elections but they're also reminding us of the rich history indigenous democracy :

It’s important to note, and paradoxical, that the colonizing architects of the U.S. constitution were influenced heavily by the Haudeneshonee Confederacy.

Y'all are just saying "voting is rape apologia" and attacking the idea of democracy because the current options suck (ok sure and past).

Are you really just saying don't vote this election?

Oldest confederacy: https://www.haudenosauneeconfederacy.com/the-league-of-nations/

A take on the Zapatistas: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/democraciaabierta/zapatistas-lecciones-de-auto-organizaci%C3%B3n-comunitaria-en/

Some toughts about the not voting praxis.

Electoral politics is a farse, democracy as instituted now in USA is a burgeoise game, we never had a chance to begin with. Therefore harm reduction is an illusion perpetrated by one of the part of this game.

"If voting changed anything it would be prohibited". One can argue that when you're voting you are giving your political autonomy to an elected representative, so the moment you vote, your political voice will be heard through your candidate and not you.

Other point, voting in elections give you the false sense that political activity resumes to the ballot, and only once every 4 years, leaving lots of people demobilised and powerless. " But what we can do about it? He They lost.."

And read these

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/zo-d-axa-you-are-nothing-but-suckers

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/ziq-do-anarchists-support-democracy

https://pt.crimethinc.com/2016/03/16/series-the-anarchist-critique-of-democracy

Ps: note to myself, die gender die.

Cool thanks for responding with some arguments and links. I'll check those out.

I agree with you about the false sense of political engagement and lackluster activism between elections. I'm really trying to insist on fight fight fight. Take a day to vote. Then go back to fight twice as hard even if your candidate won.

I disagree with your other point though:

1- voting doesn't remove your voice. Yes it gives some sort of official endorsement to the candidate. But you can vote for someone and immediately campaign against them. Voting only removes whatever time you need to do it.

2- if voting is giving your support. Not voting is letting other people hand out your support for you. The election is happening with or without you. The results will be tallied. If the proposal was to setup some alternate election or event in parallel through which you could organize with people and express some collective dissenting voice, sure. But ...Anyhow. I'll go read those articles now

Edit: "do anarchists support democracy" is a wild ride.

Basically argues against electoral democracy but calls it democracy. Is then shy to admit other democracies exist but quick to bring down the idea of concensus because "watered down results". Finally, proposes the solution

Instead of a large group laboring to make democracy work so they can agree on a course of action, it would be far more productive for smaller groups made up of people with shared interests to splinter off and co-operate to follow their own plans that require no compromise because their interests are already aligned.

Truly terrifying. Y'all don't dislike democracy. Y'all dislike society. Y'all claim to want to defend minorities but you're proposing the exact system that will lead to their oppression.

You know who makes a great group of people with similar interests? Racists and sexists.

You know who's hard to form into small groups that magically already agree on everything? Basically everyone else.

I think the history of Ceasar and small European tripes could enlighten you..

Also: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_democracy

I think "don't vote for a rapist" is a valid way of criticizing electoralism - when people are forced to make a choice between two rapists is terrible situation and shows systemic flaws.

I'm not that familiar with indigenous democracy traditions, but I believe there are more differences between them and modern presidential elections than similarities.

Sure. My point is still that voting in a broken system is more impactful than not voting.

Vote in the broken system. And fight for a better one.

They're not mutually exclusive options

Well, to be 100% honest with you, I don't think voting never ever brings positive changes whatsoever, period. One thing I can say with certainty - I will never vote for a known rapist.

Edit: This comment, indeed, might look like rendering what I say in my previous comment pointless, because it fails to criticize electoralism in general. But anyone can find valid critique in the links /u/Daileon posted.

I hope you fall down a well and no one notices you're gone.

Terrifying is right.

I for one do reject our society in every way I can manage and have zero interest in participating in an electoral process that I believe is completely irrelevant and simply another entertainment created to distract the masses.

Many anarchists (though in truth a tiny group in the grand scheme) have come to the logical conclusion that liberation from authority is incompatible with modern society and so have moved beyond conventional mass movement politics. Many also believe that the destruction of our planet to the extent that it may be uninhabitable is coming quickly and a direct product of and obvious result of modern society.

Neither of these viewpoints need to offer a utopian vision of the future offering all of the comforts and safety of modern society to be valid. They simply state the obvious. The world is fucked and we reject it in its totality. We fight it by whatever means are available to us whenever the opportunity presents.

This viewpoint isn’t negative, rather saying that the opportunities for life are limitless if we see all systems of oppression as a dead end. You just have to get creative and reconsider your perspective of success and failure.

Also, no judgment if you vote. I completely understand where you’re coming from. I just see things differently.

If you don’t think this is totally bat shit crazy there’s a lot of reading to be found, but to be respectful I won’t make suggestions unsolicited and without knowing more about you.

God this is disappointing.

I know. You're really bad at this.

Name calling. Arguing structure not content.

Fucker, you gave me a shitty car analogy in response to me pointing out how voting doesn't matter, that's not content, it's bullshit. I gave you the exact response that it warranted.

Confusing arguing with whining.

In response to you calling everyone here sanctimonious. You weren't arguing anything there, try again.

Anything to say about the Praxis of not-voting?

There's no "praxis" in not-voting. I've yet to see anyone here argue that. There's also no "praxis" in voting. And yet, I've seen more people attempt to guilt-trip others into participating in electoral politics than I've seen people trying to get others to abstain from voting, mostly under the bullshit guise of "lesser-evilism", "pragmatism", or moralism. I'm not convinced by any of those reasons; no one using them as an argument seems to remember how Trump got into office in the first place and have no response on how to deal with the electoral college. If you can give me an adequate retort to the fact that the popular vote can get overturned, maybe I'll actually address the "lesser-evil" argument.

Truly terrifying. Y'all don't dislike democracy. Y'all dislike society.

You think a small group of anarchists working together on anarchist projects is terrifying but see no problem with a huge group (hundreds of millions) of liberals putting their weight behind a white supremacist war-criminal neoliberal imperialist rapist like Joe Biden?

Ok.

You know who makes a great group of people with similar interests? Racists and sexists.

Are you under the impression racists and sexists don't form large groups? That the Democrat party isn't racist and sexist? That tiny groups of people are more dangerous than large groups of people?

You really do believe the US Democrat party aren't blood-soaked racists and sexists plundering the world to enrich themselves using the power of democracy i.e. millions of voters happily consenting to their crimes, don't you?

You know how much more harm that elected group of imperialists and their mass-society do to the world than tiny groups of anarchists co-operating due to our shared desires? Does any harm done by tiny anarchist affinity groups even measure when compared to the harm done by millions of liberals furiously casting their votes for genocidal colonizers?

Do you even possess a shred of self awareness?

barely anyone argued for why it’s praxis not to vote

That’s because it’s not a question of praxis. It’s a question of anarchists rejecting authority, and therefore refusing any personal involvement in statist political fuckery, such as elections.

Some anarchists do vote, and that’s fine with me, I don’t care.

What isn’t ok with me (and many other folks, especially here) is going around anarchist spaces telling everyone to vote, usually in incredibly aggressive and annoying ways, and then hurling abuse in their directions when they say “no thank you”.

Oh did your feelings get hurt?

I respect this.

I think I've let myself veer off course though. This isn't meant to be a defense of society or democracy. Just that voting isn't useless and doesn mean you support rapists.

Peace be with you

I'll take it.

Voting isn't always completely useless ;)

My feelings don't get affected by basic ass liberals who think anarchists need to be more supportive of rapist x vs rapist y. Please find the nearest well and plant yourself in it. Fucking waste of life.

I'm happy with the answers I've pieced together through those genuinely interested in conversation. This thread doesn't seem productive.

Vote. Don't vote. I don't care. Neither makes you a rapist or a supporter of rape.

It's as useless as your existence.

I'm either unclear or you're purposefully misunderstanding me. Either way this is no longer about voting and Ive got better things to do than try to debate with this much hostility.

Good on you for finding your answers.

Yes thanks. I've managed to piece this together eventually.

I still dislike the "voting makes you a supporter of rape" tag line but oh well.

Had I really have no use in life. You sure as hell are providing me with one.

I'm trying to disengage here. I get it y'all don't like having your opinion questioned or having to explain it. Good for you.

Sure could be both.

You dont think that immediately the classic oppressors would rise up, group together and dominate in any such situation?

I think people need to form larger organizations to control against the natural tendency to form groups based on ethnoreligious attributes or at least ways to coordinate smaller groups in order to resist against such large formations. If decisions aren't made by some form of concensus then it's not anarchy it's gonna be dominatiin by strength. fascism. At least this is my opinion.

And we're far off from the topic of voting but I've somewhat enjoyed our conversation. So adieu and go vote! Or not. Just don't call people rape appologist for voting :) or do. But I might get upset.

Well I don’t think anyone is saying that voting makes you a rape apologist, but urging others to vote for a known rapist and loudly proclaiming that you don’t care about whether or not they’re a rapist (as the subject of this post does) is definitely rape apologia.

We absolutely don't live in a world of extreme rhetoric.

I have no idea what you’re trying to say. People have been making light of the fact that of both candidates are rapists and urging them to vote for the blue rapist. That’s unambiguously rape apologia. That’s all that was said.

Also worth noting that their first point describes the present way more than it does anarchy.

Yes yes unambiguous. Your ability for perspective and nuance as astounding as your ability and desire to understand other people's opinions.

You are a bastion of principals and rethoric and how blessed I am that you've made such dedicated effort to converse with me.

Ohhh principaled one. How can I be just like everyone here and hold so strongly onto poorly argued positions? How can I become so dismissive of other opinions and become part of this totally not clicky and hivemindy anarchist as yourself?

I've been dreaming of becoming you glang. You're truly inspiring.

Again thanks for actually engaging. Not gonna quote all your points but:

Decisions about say.. where to build your house? The communal bread oven? Should we grow zucchini or pumpkins or gourdes this year? Or do we want anarchy and our veg to cross polinate and all become decorative gourds?

So why I am misogynist?

And I hear you about organizing, I think you're wrong though. People can and do work together all the time without controling each other. If you read the article on Zapatistas you woulve had a great example regarding the school board.

It takes maturity to acknowledge that compromise is necessary when trying to coordinate multiple people. It takes maturity to accept that through that compromise every one comes out better. It's not about control from others. It's about letting go of your own control.

But again y'all don't like society. Y'all somehow see working with people or discssing ideas as oppressive.

Im with Bokkchin. This individualist anarchy is wrong and in no way a future I care to work towards.

Good luck with the struggle.

Stop projecting your insecurities. I’ve explained to you why some people refuse to vote and I’ve explained how loads of people will go to great lengths to try and excuse sexual abuse.

That’s literally all there is to it.

I'm defensive. This thread isn't pleasant.

What is making you defensive? The topic of rape culture? Why would the discussion of how powerful capitalists are unapologetic, proud, unaccountable abusers...make you defensive? I guess my question is, what shared stake do you have with those people targeted by OP's/ITT's critique/frustration with these ultra-powerful people?

I'm not meaning to passive aggressively calling you a rapist. I don't know you. But I think that many people, are socialized to get defensive when the topic of abuse culture and normalized/rhetorical violence come up. We are all invested in seeing ourselves as moral beings, with a coherent framework, so it's difficult for us to talk about the many ways in which all of us are, in varying ways, complicit in a variety of different reifications, even if we actively and vocally try to oppose those reifications. But the truth is, we do reify these things, they wouldn't exist without broad participation. So it's better to talk about them and deconstruct them one step at a time, than get defensive, imho.

My last comment was an attempt at portraying myself as a flopping stand-up comedian...

self-deprecation is the road to self-pity and, can also result in the bad take syndrome. Additionally, there's usually no worse comedian, than the comedian that blames the audience for their bad set-- even in a meta way, lol. I can think of a few exceptions i guess, though.

Not voting is cowardly.

I mean, voting requires you to put your name and address and other personal infos, in a public database. Seriously; just type in the legal name and date of birth of one of your friends into the ballot tracking website; you'll get their address out, and their political party they registered for. Given USA is on the brink of...something, I don't really fault your fellow USA residents for not voting this time due to how potentially dangerous it could be for victims of stalking/abuse, POC, minorities of various kinds, and people who do other more meaningful political work. I think saying it's "cowardly" is kind of fucked up if they have actual safety concerns due to direct action or other vulnerabilities.

Not voting is exactly the type of propaganda strategy I would be pushing if I was Trump.

I mean, yeah, and voting would be exactly the propaganda strategy you would pursue if you were Biden. That doesn't invalidate the position, really; people can have different desires for doing the same thing.

"I want other peoples votes to decide for me"...What principals?! The idea that by doing nothing you're superior to the person that takes a few minutes to vote for a clearly lesser evil?

If you think about it, other peoples' votes already decide things for you. Unless you happen to live in a few random cities, the USA election for president is basically out of your reach to influence. Which makes both voting, and not voting, an essentially aesthetic or symbolic action rather than a meaningful praxis of any kind. At least, in the national elections in USA; I know less about the local ones, but sometimes people have good reasons for participating in those from what I have heard from friends.

This is a great answer, and very calmly and clearly communicated.

I wonder, based on my conversations with USA people, if this tendency to take a side is over just misconceptions. There are a lot of people who voted for Biden, because they perceive and i think exaggerate a difference in the immigration policy between him and his opponent. In reality, I think Joe Biden administration will probably do what he promised to do: stay the course, not correct it. If you look at his platform on his website, it basically only talks about expediting the legal proceedings for immigrants (faster deportations), and reinstating certain limited residence privileges for select minorities of immigrants (DACA). The vast majority of the system will remain the same, unless i misunderstand something all these USA get.

So too, were there a lot of people who turned out to vote for Trump, who are US American "Latinx", so many analysts are "puzzled".

So I think there's a general lack of race and class and gender consciousness in USA right now, judging from the outside. Something which, regardless if you are left right or anarchist in other parts of the world, I think in my part of the world, it's just assumed you probably have a certain level of consciousness about these things; maybe not gender as much honestly, but certainly race and class issues are more openly and coherently discussed in public.

They even hate Kropotkin around here lol.